In a significant boost to healthcare infrastructure, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has commissioned a 100-bed Sustainable Development Multipurpose Hospital in Obeaja, Ugwunagbo LGA. The hospital, a project by the federal government under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), was officially opened in a ceremony attended by key government officials and stakeholders.
Governor Otti expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the healthcare sector, which facilitated the completion and renaming of the facility from the SDG Mother and Child Hospital to a Multipurpose Hospital to serve a broader community.
During his address, Governor Otti emphasized the importance of healthcare in his administration’s strategic agenda. He referenced the 2001 Abuja Declaration, where African countries pledged to allocate at least 15% of their budgets to healthcare, noting that Abia State’s 2024 budget has met this target.
“Healthcare occupies a major position in our strategy as a government,” Otti stated. “I am happy to report that the current 2024 budget of the Abia State government allocated 15% of the budget to healthcare. This is consistent with the objectives of this government.”
The Governor highlighted the alignment of his administration’s goals with the Federal Government’s Sustainable Development Goal 3, aiming to reduce maternal mortality to 70 per 1,000 live births by 2030. He noted significant progress in maternal health in Abia State, with maternal mortality rates dropping from 1,047 per 1,000 in 2020 to 136 in recent reports. He expressed optimism about future improvements, attributing this progress to his administration’s focused efforts on healthcare delivery.
Governor Otti unveiled plans for a comprehensive medical village aimed at reducing medical tourism, which costs Nigerians between $1.6 billion and $2 billion annually. “Our goal is that by the time we finish with our medical village, at least 10 percent of $2 billion will be spent in our state,” he announced.
The Governor assured that the state government would manage the newly commissioned hospital, promising 24-hour security, additional land for doctors’ quarters, and a facility management team to maintain high standards.
In an address, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing quality and accessible healthcare for all.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Adefuliren, noted that the project, conceived during her first tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari, fulfills the dream of every mother for safe delivery in a healthy environment. She highlighted that similar projects have been executed across the 36 states under the SDGs to improve living standards, aligning with President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifeyinwa Uma-Kalu, appreciated Governor Otti for transforming healthcare narratives in the state and described the project as a milestone towards achieving sustainable and efficient healthcare services.
Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Management Board (HMB), Dr. Odochi Azubuike, credited Governor Otti’s commitment to healthcare for the completion of the long-abandoned project in partnership with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs. She emphasized that the facility is equipped to provide antenatal care, management of child diseases, and general medical services.
Deputy Mayor of Ugwunagbo LGA, Mr. Kelvin Chijioke, expressed joy over the project, describing it as the first of its kind in Ugwunagbo. He assured that local stakeholders would take ownership of the hospital to ensure it serves optimally.
